Healthcare contractors urged to give personalised treatments

Each patient should be given a treatment that is highly specific to their needs, one expert believes.

Giving highly personalised treatments to patients is something that all healthcare contractors should aspire to, one expert has suggested.

Dr Malcolm VandenBurg, specialist in general and pharmaceutical medicine, highlighted that there are a range of issues that need to be taken into account when prescribing treatments.

He continued: "You have to take into account the person's age, their other illnesses and the other drugs they're on.

"When you choose the medicine, you must think how they will react with the other medicines."

Dr VandenBurg emphasised that different people will react in varying ways to certain treatments, so by taking their individual circumstances into account, the best possible course of action will be followed.

This follows comments from Dr Cory Holly, naturopath and professor of holistic nutrition, who explained that tailor-made diets and nutritional programmes are essential for athletes.

He emphasised that there are a range of factors that need to be considered when putting together a diet plan for a sportsman.